Operator propelled toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

An operator-propelled toy vehicle of the type having a body supported on rotatable wheels and including a deformable spring carried by the body with the vehicle intended to be propelled responsive to reaction forces resultant from deflection of the spring, characterized by a motion transmitting means associated with the wheels for permitting movement of the vehicle either in a forward or rear direction or free movement of the vehicle in either direction.

United States Patent 1 Morrison et al.

[ Nov. 20, 1973 OPERATOR PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE [75] Inventors: Howard J. Morrison, Highland Park; Marvin 1. Glass, Chicago,

both of ill.

[73 I Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 227,775

[52] US. Cl. 280/2l8,;280/1.191 [51] Int. Cl. A63g 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..280/1.191, 1.192, 280/1.194,1.188,1.189, 218, 220, 221, 226

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,684,250 9/1928 Tegelberg 280/ 1.192 1,651,583 12/1927 Calleson 280/1.182 1,598,966 9/1926 Hart"; 280/1.192 658,433 9/1900 Geier 280/1.192

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 71,743 2/1947 Norway 280/1 192 102 v r/p 519,486 10/1953 Belgium ..280/l.193

Primary Examiner-Leo Friag'lia Assistant Examiner-Randall A. Schrecengest Attorney-James F. Coffee et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An operator-propelled toy vehicle of the type having a body supported on rotatable wheels and including a deformable spring carried by the body with the vehicle intended to be propelled responsive to reaction forces resultant from deflection of the spring, characterized by a motion transmitting means associated with the wheels for permitting movement of the vehicle either in a forward or rear direction or free movement of the vehicle in either direction.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED NOV 2 0 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 OPERATOR PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a toy device and more particularly to an operator propelled toy vehicle.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art The Trevena U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,270 discloses an inchworm type toy having five discrete body sections I 13,206, filed Feb. 8, I971, entitled Inchworm Vehicle and assigned to the assignee of this invention discloses an improved form of an operator propelled toy wherein a sinuous spring is connected to forward and rear wheels for unidirectional movement of the wheels responsive to reaction forces received from deformationof the spring.

Operator propelled toy vehicles are well received in the art in that they are easily operated and" simply constructed and especially suitable for use by extremely 'young children. Accordingly, it is the object of this inventiontomeet the continuing. need and desire in the art forimprovements in toys of this kind? by providing an operator. propelled toy vehicle wherein the movement of the vehicle may be restrainedin-either a rearwardor forward direction or free movement permitted which may result in a static conditionaof the vehicle with respect to relative movement-over a supporting surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This-invention is directed; in brief, to the provision of an improved operator propelled toy vehicle. The-best mode. currently contemplated for carrying out-the in} vention includes the provision of a body mounted ona 'base which supports rotatable wheels. The bo'dyin-v cludes a deformable leaf spring member in the interior thereof which is also connected to the base. The rear wheels of the base are provided with'shiftable' ratchet mechanism which-permits the vehicle to be .moved in a forward direction only, a rear direction only, or which may be moved to a neutral mode wherein free move ment of the vehicle is permitted which may result in the vehicle remaining stationary responsive to reaction forces as the spring is deflected.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWINGS FIG. -1 is a perspective view of the operator propelled toy vehicle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view of the toy vehicle shown in- FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. .4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the rearaxle and motion transmitting assembly of the toy vehicle-of this invention;

' FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is anelevational view of the motion transmitting assembly'utilized with the rear wheels of the toy vehicle of this invention showing the assemblyin a forward mode wherein forward movement of-the vehicle ispermitted; 4

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the "motion transmitting assemblyin a neutral mode;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and,7 showing the motion transmitting assembly in a reverse mode;

FIG. 9 is a section view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6 showing the locking means for the motion transmitting assembly of this invention; and

FIG. 10 is a diagramatic view illustrating the mounting plate for the motion transmitting assembly and rear axle of the toy vehicle of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodi ment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The toy vehicle 10 of this invention is of the type intended to be occupied and propelled by a child, or the like. The vehicle 10 includes a base member 12, preferably made of a channel stock metal. Rotatable wheels 14 support the vehicle for rotation along a supporting surface. The front wheels 14' are connected. to axle l6; whicl'i is rotatably connected to base 12 by means of bracket Rear wheels 14 are connected to axle 20 which is associated with bracket 22 for rotatably connecting the rear wheels with respect to the base l2. Specific description of the rear wheel mounting arrangement will be explained in detail later.-

The body 24 includes a base portion 26 which is in the form of a pair of simulated horse legs. A flexible portion 28 having a hollow interior 28a, extends upwardly from the base 26 and the flexible portion is preferably made of an accordian pleated plastic. A seating portion 29 joins flexible portion 28 with rigid forward portion 30 which has a hollow interior 30a. Forward portion 30 includes forwardly projecting simulated horse legs 32 with a simulated horse head 34. A suitable decorative ornamentation 36 which is shown herein in the form of a hat and ears, may be provided on the horse head 34.

Spring element 38 is preferably made of a flat elongate leaf spring metal bent into a generalC-shape and includes a base portion 40, which is connected to base 12 and a body portion 42. Generally speaking, the body portion 42 extends obtusely upwardly and outwardly from the base 40, generally from the area of the rear axle 20.

webs 44 which span the interior 30a. Webs44 have openings 44a of a size and shape corresponding to the h figuration and has annular flanges 46a and 46b which captivate grooves 47a in body'portion 30 and grooves 47b in body portion 28 to assist in joining the two portions together. Bottom 46 further has side recesses 48d and 48b defining lateral side flanges 50a and 50b, each of which has hollow upstanding hubs 52a and 52b-for receiving fasteners 54a and 54b.

Forward portion 30 of the body 24 is provided with I The seating portion 29 further includes an upper portion 56 having four depending legs 58a, 58b, 58c and 58d terminating in four outwardly projecting feet 60a, 60b, 60c and 60d, respectively. The forward and rearward feet 60a and 60b are connected by means of fasteners 62a and 62b to the spring 38. The two side or lateral feet 60c, 60d have openings 62c and 62d, respectively, therein through which hubs 52a and 52b, respectively, extend. The seating portion 29 further includes a simulated saddle 64 having a simulated saddle horn portion 64a. The saddle portion 64 has downwardly opening recesses 66a and 66b for receiving the fasteners 54a and 54b. The saddle 64 has an interior configuration 68 which generally snugly embraces the top member 56 so that, through the means of the fasteners 54a and 54b, the seating portion 29 comprised of the sub-portions 46, 56, and 64, may be assembled together as a unit which unit serves to join together the body portions 30 and 28.

The toy vehicle of this invention further includes motion transmitting means 70 associated with the rear axle 20. Included in motion transmitting means 70 is an operating arm 72 having a knob 72a at the free end thereof. Arm 72 is an integral part of hub 74 which has an enlarged interior 76 positioned concentrically about axle 20. A sleeve 78 is connected with hub 74 such as by a force-fit relationship and also connected, by the same relationship, with a hub 80 at its other end, with hub 80 also having an enlarged interior 82 which is concentric about axle 20. Hub 80 further has a circumferentially enlarged flange 84 which is fixedly received within an opening 84a of the lever arm 86 by suitable means, such as staking or the like. Therefore, as arm 72 is moved the lever arm 86 will also be moved.

Axle is preferably square in cross-section and is supported in a bearing 88 having a mating square interior 90. Bearing 88 also has opposite enlarged flanged ends 920 and 92b defining a cylindrical reduced intermediate portion 94 which is rotatably held between the semi-cylindrical hump 98 of bracket 22 and the base channel 12. Bracket 22 is preferably connected to the base channel by suitable means such as the fasteners 100. Preferably, flanged end 92b of bearing 88 has a hub extension to which another sleeve 78 is connected and through which shaft 20 passes to support the other rear wheel 14.

The bearing 88 also includes an enlarged gear 96 at the one flanged end 92a. Gear 96 forms part of a pawl and ratchet arrangement for determining the direction of movement which may be imparted to the vehicle 10.

Further included in the motion transmitting means 70 is a pair of dogs 102, 104 having outwardly extending shafts 106 and 108 respectively, received in spaced semi-cylindrical recesses 110 and 112 of bracket 22. Thus, the center axes of the shafts 106 and 108 for dogs 102 and 104 as well as shaft 24 which supports wheels 14 and the bearing 88 which supports the gear 96 are all positioned on fixed centers established by the recesses in bracket 22.

Each of the dogs 102 and 104 has an outwardly projecting finger stub 114 and 116 which overhangs the lever arm 86. A biasing spring 118 and 120 extends from projections 122 and 124, respectively, to engagement with each ofthe dogs 102 and 104 to normally urge the dogs downwardly so that the laterally project-' ing stubs 114 and 116 are in abutment with the lever arm 86. It is to be understood that the dogs 102 and 104 would normally abut the lever arm.86 under the influence of gravity, but that the provision of the biasing springs 1'18 and assist in so positioning the dogs with the stubs 114 and 116 abutting the top of arm 86. Each dog 102 and 104 has a finger 126 and 128, respectively which is intended for engagement ,with the teeth of ratchet rear 96 responsive to the biasing force of springs 118 and 120. Springs 118 and 120 serve to prevent the dogs from being reversely flipped out of orientation relative to gear 96 and pins 130 and 132 projecting outwardly from opening's134 and 136 in recesses 110 and 112 may also be provided for this purpose.

As can be best understood with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, when the arm 72 is movedso that finger 126 abuts gear 96, the vehicle will be iri a forward mode of operation in that reverse movement is restrained. Finger 126 is brought into engagement with the gear 96 by moving arm 86 so that through its engagement with stub 128, dog 104 is raised and finger 128 is moved away from the gear 96. At the same time, this permits dog 102 and therefore, finger 126 to drop into engagement with the gear 96.

FIG. 7 illustrates the orientation of the components of the motion transmitting means in a neutral mode wherein the arm 72 is relatively centered so that both of the fingers 126 and 128 are held out of engagement from the'gear 96. FIG. 8 shows the orientation of the components of the motion transmitting means in a reverse mode, this being the opposite of the mode shown in FIG. 6. Here the arm 86 has been moved by movement of lever 72 so that dog 102 is raised and finger 126 is moved away from gear 96, while dog 104 has been permitted to drop with finger 128 in engagement with gear 96.

Means are provided for locking the motion transmitting means in any one of the aforementioned modes. Included in this locking means is an upright 140 extending upwardly from base 12 and provided with a laterally projecting finger 142. Finger 142 has a rounded end 144 which can act as a detent in association with the openings 146a and 146b and 1460 at one end of the lever arm 86. As the arm 72 is moved to change the orientation of the lever arm 86, the finger 142 will be sprung into'one of the aforementioned three openings and will hold the lever arm 86 in its preselected orientation and therefore hold the vehicle in a predetermined mode of movement.

In operation, when the motion transmitting means, and therefore, the vehicle, is in a forward mode of operation, as an occupant sits on the saddle 64 and bounces up and down, the reaction forces imparted by the spring 38 will cause the vehicle to move forwardly, in that it is restrained against movement in a rearward direction. The opposite is true when the motion transmitting means is in a reverse mode of operation as shown in FIG. 8. However, a unique advantage is further afforded by the provision of the so-called neutral position as shown in FIG. 7. When the vehicle is in this mode of movement, generally speaking, repeated bouncing up and down on the vehicle, will cause the vehicle to remain static relative to a supporting surface. This is because the vehicle is not restrained from movement in any direction and thus, the reactive forces produced by deformation or flexing of spring 38 will not be transmitted into opposing forces which could cause movement of the vehicle in one direction or the other.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is in this neutral mode of operation it may be easily pushed or pulled about in any direction.

Thus, it can be seen that the toy vehicle of this invention provides a unique arrangement in the operator propelled vehicles of the type intended to move responsive to deformation of a spring. With the toy vehicle of this invention, the vehicle may be made to move in either a forward or reverse direction where there is substantial room for the vehicle to move about. Moreover, the toy is extremely suitable as an indoor toy or for use in a limited space in that it may be locked in a neutral position so that an occupant may bounce up and down without causing movement of the vehicle.

The foregoing detailed description hasbeen given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An operator propelled vehicle comprising:

means defining a body having opposite ends;

a leaf spring connected to said body and extending obtusely upwardly near one end thereof and supporting the operators seat at said end for oscillation;

an axle rotatably journalled to the body;

ground engaging wheel means mounted on said axle for rotation relative to said body;

a ratchet gear concentrically mounted on said axle for rotation with said wheel means;

a carrier pivoted about the axle axis for movement of portions thereof between forward and rear positions;

two ratchet dogs mounted on said carrier portions on opposite sides of the ratchet gear, each dog having a gear engaging portion and a carrier engaging portion normally urged against said carrier, the ratchet dogs preventing rotation of the wheel means in either direction depending on which gear engaging portion of the respective dogs engages the ratchet gear, one dog being in a position for its gear engaging portion to engage the gear when the carrier portions are in said forward position, the other dog being in a position for its gear engaging portion to able to a middle position by said operating means 10 whereat neither dog is in a position for engagement of its gear engaging portion with the ratchet gear, whereby the vehicle may move in either direction.

3. In an operator propelled vehicle which includes,

means defining a body,

an axle mounted on said body,

ground engaging wheel means mounted on said axle for rotation to said body, motion restraining means comprising:

a ratchet gear concentrically mounted for rotation with said wheel means;

a carrier mounted on said axle and movable relative to said ratchet gear between a first position and a second position;

pawl means mounted on said carrier and having gear engaging means, said pawl means being in a position for the gear engaging means to engage the gear at one point thereof when said carrier is in said first position for preventing rotation of the wheel means in one direction, said pawl means being in a position for the gear engaging means to'engage said gear at another point thereof when said carrier is in said second position for preventing rotation of the wheel means in the opposite direction; and

operating means connected to said carrier for moving said carrier between said first and second positions, whereby an operator may selectively determine which direction the vehicle shall move.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said carrier is mov- 

1. An operator propelled vehicle comprising: means defining a body having opposite ends; a leaf spring connected to said body and extending obtusely upwardly near one end thereof and supporting the operator''s seat at said end for oscillation; an axle rotatably journalled to the body; ground engaging wheel means mounted on said axle for roTation relative to said body; a ratchet gear concentrically mounted on said axle for rotation with said wheel means; a carrier pivoted about the axle axis for movement of portions thereof between forward and rear positions; two ratchet dogs mounted on said carrier portions on opposite sides of the ratchet gear, each dog having a gear engaging portion and a carrier engaging portion normally urged against said carrier, the ratchet dogs preventing rotation of the wheel means in either direction depending on which gear engaging portion of the respective dogs engages the ratchet gear, one dog being in a position for its gear engaging portion to engage the gear when the carrier portions are in said forward position, the other dog being in a position for its gear engaging portion to engage said gear when said carrier portions are in said rear position; and operating means connected to said carrier for selectively moving said carrier between said forward and rear positions, whereby an operator may selectively determine which direction the vehicle shall move.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said carrier is movable to a middle position by said operating means whereat neither dog is in a position for engagement of its gear engaging portion with the ratchet gear, whereby the vehicle may move in either direction.
 3. In an operator propelled vehicle which includes, means defining a body, an axle mounted on said body, ground engaging wheel means mounted on said axle for rotation to said body, motion restraining means comprising: a ratchet gear concentrically mounted for rotation with said wheel means; a carrier mounted on said axle and movable relative to said ratchet gear between a first position and a second position; pawl means mounted on said carrier and having gear engaging means, said pawl means being in a position for the gear engaging means to engage the gear at one point thereof when said carrier is in said first position for preventing rotation of the wheel means in one direction, said pawl means being in a position for the gear engaging means to engage said gear at another point thereof when said carrier is in said second position for preventing rotation of the wheel means in the opposite direction; and operating means connected to said carrier for moving said carrier between said first and second positions, whereby an operator may selectively determine which direction the vehicle shall move.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said carrier is movable to a middle position by said operating means whereat neither dog is in a position for engagement of its gear engaging portion with the ratchet gear, whereby the vehicle may move in either direction. 